Testing your internet speed is essential for determining if you're getting what you pay for, diagnosing connectivity issues, and deciding if you need to upgrade your plan. This guide shows you exactly how to test your speed accurately and understand the results.
Close all applications and browser tabs except the speed test. Pause downloads, streaming, cloud backups, and any other bandwidth-intensive activities. This ensures accurate results that reflect your maximum connection speed, not your speed while multitasking.
For the most accurate test, connect your device directly to your modem or router using an ethernet cable. This eliminates WiFi interference and signal degradation. If testing WiFi performance, move close to your router and ensure no obstacles block the signal.
Open your web browser and go to CyberSpeedTest.com. Our HTML5-based test works on any device without plugins or downloads. The test is fast, accurate, and shows comprehensive results including download speed, upload speed, ping, and jitter.
Click "Start Test" and wait about 30 seconds. The test measures your connection by downloading and uploading data to our servers while measuring response time. Don't interact with your device during testing for best accuracy.
Your results show four key metrics: download speed (how fast you receive data), upload speed (how fast you send data), ping (response time), and jitter (connection stability). Compare these numbers to your internet plan to see if you're getting what you pay for.
Run the test 2-3 times and average the results. Internet speed can fluctuate, so multiple tests give you a more accurate picture. Test at different times of day, especially during peak evening hours when network congestion is highest.
Download speed measures how fast data comes to you from the internet. This is the number most people care about because it affects streaming, browsing, downloading files, and loading web pages. It's measured in Mbps (megabits per second). Higher is better.
You should receive at least 80% of your plan's advertised download speed. If you pay for 100 Mbps but consistently get 60 Mbps, contact your internet provider. Speeds below 80% of advertised rates may indicate network issues or inadequate infrastructure.
Upload speed measures how fast you send data to the internet. This matters for video calls, uploading videos or photos, live streaming, cloud backups, and online gaming (for sending your actions to servers). Upload speed is usually slower than download speed on most residential internet plans.
If your uploads are very slow but downloads are fine, this is normal for asymmetric connections. However, if both are slow, you may have a connection problem.
Ping measures response time in milliseconds - how long it takes for data to travel from your device to the server and back. Lower ping is better. For casual browsing, high ping doesn't matter much. For gaming and video calls, low ping is crucial.
Good ping: Under 20ms (excellent for gaming), Acceptable ping: 20-50ms (good for most activities), Fair ping: 50-100ms (noticeable in fast-paced games), Poor ping: Over 100ms (causes lag in games and delays in video calls).
Jitter measures ping consistency. If ping varies wildly (high jitter), your connection is unstable. This causes stuttering video, lag spikes in games, and choppy video calls. Good jitter is under 30ms. High jitter indicates network problems even if your speed seems adequate.
Pro tip: Save your speed test results over time to track performance trends. If speeds gradually decrease, it may indicate deteriorating infrastructure that needs attention from your ISP.
First, verify you're testing correctly (wired connection, no other activity). Remember that advertised speeds are usually "up to" speeds, not guarantees. However, you should consistently receive at least 80% of the advertised speed. Contact your provider if speeds are significantly lower.
This indicates WiFi problems, not an internet connection issue. Move closer to your router, reduce interference from other devices, switch to 5GHz WiFi if available, or upgrade to a better router. Walls, distance, and electronic devices all degrade WiFi signals.
Some variation is normal, but dramatic swings suggest network instability. Check for loose cables, outdated router firmware, or interference from other networks. High jitter in your results confirms connection instability.
The problem is with that specific device. Check for outdated network drivers, malware consuming bandwidth, background updates, or a weak WiFi adapter. Try restarting the device or testing with an ethernet connection.
Test your speed in these situations:
If your speed tests consistently show poor performance:
Document your test results before calling your ISP. Having specific numbers (date, time, speeds, ping) makes it easier to describe the problem and faster for them to resolve it.
For the most reliable and useful speed test results:
Regular speed testing helps you stay informed about your internet performance, identify problems early, and ensure you're getting the service you pay for. Test your connection now to see how it measures up.